DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/jekk.v11i3.32388

Beyond Nutrition Assistance : Implementation and Sustainability of The GENTING Foster Parent Movement for Stunting Reduction in Surakarta, Indonesia

*Ririn Ariyanti orcid scopus  -  Doctoral Program in Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia
Siti Mar'atul Munawarah scopus  -  Doctoral Program in Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia
Daniela L Adeline Boeky scopus  -  Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Nusa Cendana, Kupang, Indonesia
Khaeriyah Adri  -  Faculty of Health Science, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidenreng Rappang, Indonesia
Received: 25 May 2026; Revised: 28 Jul 2026; Accepted: 5 Aug 2026; Available online: 7 Aug 2026; Published: 7 Aug 2026.

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Abstract

Background: Stunting reduction requires local programs that move beyond temporary nutrition assistance and address caregiving, household capability, environmental risk, and implementation governance. Surakarta City implemented the Gerakan Orang Tua Asuh Cegah Stunting (GENTING), a foster-parent movement that mobilizes family-planning field officers, community health cadres, local government, and cross-sector partners to support vulnerable households.

Methods: This descriptive qualitative implementation study analyzed GENTING in three priority urban villages—Sondakan, Sumber, and Sewu—using field documentation, in-depth interviews, observation, thematic analysis, and SWOT/TOWS synthesis.

Result: GENTING functioned as a community implementation platform that connected food support, cadre accompaniment, household monitoring, education, and complementary engagement activities. The program was perceived by implementers and beneficiaries to support child feeding during the assistance period, but sustainability was constrained by high cadre workload, limited incentive systems, weak behavior-change orientation, assistance dependency, indirect caregiving by grandparents or other relatives, and water, sanitation, and housing barriers. Baby-spa activities increased engagement and were perceived to support appetite and sleep, but their role remained complementary.

Conclusion: : GENTING should be redesigned as a family-empowerment and implementation-governance model. Its sustainability depends on structured cadre support, household-wide behavior-change counselling, inclusion of alternative caregivers, WASH-linked environmental action, data-driven monitoring, and an exit strategy that builds economic and caregiving capacity before assistance ends.

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Keywords: Stunting prevention ; Community health cadres ; Behavior change communication ; Family empowerment ; Implementation sustainability

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